Garment workers block Dhaka-Narayanganj road demanding a Tk 30,000 minimum wage
Garment workers have now blocked the Dhaka-Narayanganj link road in Narayanganj, demanding that the minimum wage be set at Tk 30,000. On Monday (November 2) at noon, workers from several garment factories gathered in the Kutubail Katherpool area of Sadar upazila and then sat down on the road. Traffic on the important road was disrupted, causing suffering for ordinary passengers.
The workers began gathering in the Katherpool area at around 11:30am. At around 12 noon, they took positions on the Dhaka-Narayanganj link road and began the blockade.
Workers of several Fatullah factories — including Metro Knitting, Polmol Garments, Abir Fashion and Azad-Rifat Dyeing — joined the protest. Their single demand is that the minimum monthly wage be fixed at Tk 30,000.
A labour organisation leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the workers had joined the movement spontaneously, not under the banner of any specific organisation, and had blocked the road to press the demand for a Tk 30,000 minimum wage.
On hearing of the blockade, a district police team went to the scene. Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Tarek Al Mehedi said, 'We have received the news. Police have gone to the spot with accompanying force.' He said efforts were under way to bring the situation under control by talking to the workers.
The Narayanganj blockade came in continuation of the ongoing workers' movement over the same demand in industrial belts including Gazipur and Ashulia.
